The Zelensky Files Part III: Navigating uncertain futures : Leadership strategies and practices for university leaders

This article is Part III of The Zelensky Files trilogy on leadership. A central theme of this article is the axiom that leadership functions in a world of uncertainty with few guarantees and with exponential complexity during national crises. The paper provides a brief review of The Zelensky Files I and II, as well as the research that informed these articles. The Zelensky Files 11-15 are presented around a common thread: a leader in any organisation often does not have absolute control over their organisation and its future. These leadership files encompass uncertain futures, varying leadership needs during war and peacetime, knowing when to step aside, and the fact that talent and intellect do not always prevail; situational context matters - a separate leadership approach is required for each, albeit to a lesser extent. The last sections of the paper provide a synthesis of Zelensky's leadership and implications for university leaders.